Buckeye Reporter

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Reta Jo Lewis, the president of the Export-Import Bank (EXIM), joined a roundtable discussion hosted by Andy Fedynsky at the Ukrainian Museum-Archives. During the discussion, Brown and Chair Lewis discussed how the bank can better support Ohio’s Ukrainian community.

“I know how hard it is for Ohio’s Ukrainian community to watch from afar, as many of you have poured yourselves into helping Ukraine in recent months – I’m sure you’ve started to dread the news, where it seems like every day we hear news of new atrocities committed by Russian forces,” said Brown at the roundtable. “As Chair of the Banking & Housing Committee, I’ve worked to make sure the president has the authority he needs to continue ratcheting up the pressure with these sanctions, and pressed the administration to intensify that pressure all along the way.”

"Ukrainian-Americans and other communities throughout Ohio and America appreciate the importance of Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression is for America and the Free World and how critical it is for Ukraine to prevail,” said Andy Fedynsky of the Ukrainian Museum-Archives. “Senator Brown has been a leader in Congress helping to organize military, humanitarian, political and moral support for Ukraine. We are gratified that he reached out to the community in Ohio for information and advice that he will take back to Washington for on-going legislative support even as he's establishing real-time, on-the-ground connections to EXIM Bank with President Lewis who is able to provide assets in this historic effort. We are truly grateful."

Prior to the Russian invasion, EXIM was active in encouraging trade and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine. In August of 2021 EXIM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between EXIM and the government of Ukraine. Under the MOU, EXIM and Ukraine's Ministry of Economy agreed to mutual communication regarding opportunities to facilitate procurement of U.S. goods and services by the Ukrainian government for projects in the transportation, safety and security, healthcare and other sectors.